Tool
Nozzle tip chart
The number on a nozzle is its orifice size, and the right one depends on both the flow and the pressure your machine is rated for. Enter them here to get the size, see what every other size would do on your pump, and pick the fan angle for the job.
Your machine
Nozzle size chart
Flow through each nozzle size at each pressure. Tap a row to see what that size does on your machine.
Sizes are orifice numbers as stamped on the nozzle: flow in US gallons per minute at 4000 PSI. Cells are calculated, not transcribed, so they may differ from a printed chart by a rounding digit.
Nozzle size for common machines
The nozzle size for machines rated in litres per minute and bar, on a gun or lance and on a two-nozzle surface cleaner.
| Machine | Same in US units | Gun or lance | Surface cleaner (2 nozzles) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 L/min @ 130 bar | 2.2 GPM · 1,885 PSI | 035 | 020 |
| 11 L/min @ 150 bar | 2.9 GPM · 2,176 PSI | 040 | 020 |
| 13 L/min @ 180 bar | 3.4 GPM · 2,611 PSI | 045 | 025 |
| 15 L/min @ 200 bar | 4 GPM · 2,901 PSI | 050 | 025 |
| 15 L/min @ 250 bar | 4 GPM · 3,626 PSI | 045 | 025 |
| 18 L/min @ 200 bar | 4.8 GPM · 2,901 PSI | 055 | 030 |
| 21 L/min @ 200 bar | 5.5 GPM · 2,901 PSI | 065 | 035 |
| 21 L/min @ 250 bar | 5.5 GPM · 3,626 PSI | 060 | 030 |
| 30 L/min @ 200 bar | 7.9 GPM · 2,901 PSI | 100 | 050 |
| 30 L/min @ 250 bar | 7.9 GPM · 3,626 PSI | 085 | 045 |
Flow per nozzle size in L/min, by pressure in bar
Litres per minute through each nozzle size at each pressure. Find your pressure across the top and your flow down that column; that row is your size.
| Size | 70 bar1,015 PSI | 100 bar1,450 PSI | 140 bar2,031 PSI | 150 bar2,176 PSI | 170 bar2,466 PSI | 200 bar2,901 PSI | 250 bar3,626 PSI | 275 bar3,989 PSI | 310 bar4,496 PSI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 020 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 7.2 | 7.6 | 8 |
| 025 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 7 | 7.4 | 8.1 | 9 | 9.4 | 10 |
| 030 | 5.7 | 6.8 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 10.8 | 11.3 | 12 |
| 035 | 6.7 | 8 | 9.4 | 9.8 | 10.4 | 11.3 | 12.6 | 13.2 | 14 |
| 040 | 7.6 | 9.1 | 10.8 | 11.2 | 11.9 | 12.9 | 14.4 | 15.1 | 16.1 |
| 045 | 8.6 | 10.3 | 12.1 | 12.6 | 13.4 | 14.5 | 16.2 | 17 | 18.1 |
| 050 | 9.5 | 11.4 | 13.5 | 14 | 14.9 | 16.1 | 18 | 18.9 | 20.1 |
| 055 | 10.5 | 12.5 | 14.8 | 15.4 | 16.3 | 17.7 | 19.8 | 20.8 | 22.1 |
| 060 | 11.4 | 13.7 | 16.2 | 16.8 | 17.8 | 19.3 | 21.6 | 22.7 | 24.1 |
| 065 | 12.4 | 14.8 | 17.5 | 18.1 | 19.3 | 21 | 23.4 | 24.6 | 26.1 |
| 070 | 13.3 | 16 | 18.9 | 19.5 | 20.8 | 22.6 | 25.2 | 26.5 | 28.1 |
| 075 | 14.3 | 17.1 | 20.2 | 20.9 | 22.3 | 24.2 | 27 | 28.3 | 30.1 |
| 080 | 15.3 | 18.2 | 21.6 | 22.3 | 23.8 | 25.8 | 28.8 | 30.2 | 32.1 |
| 085 | 16.2 | 19.4 | 22.9 | 23.7 | 25.3 | 27.4 | 30.6 | 32.1 | 34.1 |
| 090 | 17.2 | 20.5 | 24.3 | 25.1 | 26.7 | 29 | 32.4 | 34 | 36.1 |
| 100 | 19.1 | 22.8 | 27 | 27.9 | 29.7 | 32.2 | 36 | 37.8 | 40.1 |
| 120 | 22.9 | 27.4 | 32.4 | 33.5 | 35.7 | 38.7 | 43.2 | 45.4 | 48.2 |
| 150 | 28.6 | 34.2 | 40.5 | 41.9 | 44.6 | 48.4 | 54.1 | 56.7 | 60.2 |
Common questions
How do I work out pressure washer nozzle size?
Nozzle size = flow in US gallons per minute × √(4000 ÷ pressure in PSI). The size number is the flow the nozzle passes at 4000 PSI. For example, a 15 L/min machine at 200 bar needs a size 050 nozzle, and a 21 L/min machine at 250 bar needs a size 060.
What nozzle size for a 15 L/min pressure washer?
At 200 bar (2900 PSI), a 15 L/min pressure washer needs a size 050 nozzle on the gun. At 250 bar it needs a 045. On a two-nozzle surface cleaner, each nozzle takes half the flow, so use a size 025 at 200 bar.
What happens if my nozzle is too small or too big?
A nozzle that is too small chokes the pump and pushes pressure above the machine’s rating, which is hard on the unloader, hose and fittings. One that is too big lets pressure drop and cleans more softly. When between sizes, go to the larger one.
How to read it
Find your machine's pressure across the top and its flow rate down that column. The row you land on is your nozzle size. If the flow falls between two rows, lean to the larger nozzle: a nozzle that is too small chokes the pump and pushes pressure past the rating, which is hard on the unloader, hoses and fittings. A few percent over is inside normal headroom, and the sizing above allows for that; more than that and the next size up is the right call. A nozzle that is too large simply runs a little softer.
A surface cleaner shares the pump's flow between its nozzles, so each one only sees a half, a third or a quarter of it and is sized for that share. Fit the same size to every nozzle on the bar: mixed sizes unbalance the spin and streak the surface.
The size stays the same whatever the fan angle. A 0° jet and a 40° fan in size 060 both pass the same flow at the same pressure — they only spread it differently. Angle is a surface decision, size is a machine decision.
Nozzles wear. As the orifice opens up, pressure at the gun drops even though the pump hasn't changed. If your gauge reads low with a clean filter and no leaks, swap the nozzle before blaming the pump.